Silicon production process evaluations. Quarterly technical progress report No. 3, November 1, 1981-January 31, 1982

Technical Report · Mon Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1982

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5664206· OSTI ID:5664206

Chemical engineering analysis was continued for the HSC process (Hemlock Semiconductor Corporation) in which solar cell silicon is produced in a 1000 MT/y plant. Progress and status are reported for the primary engineering activities involved in the preliminary process engineering design of the plant: base case conditions (96%), reaction chemistry (96%), process flow diagram (85%), material balance (85%), energy balance (60%), property data (60%), equipment design (40%), major equipment list (30%) and labor requirements (10%). Engineering design of the second distillation column (D-02, TCS column) in the process was completed. The design is based on a 97% recovery of the light key (TCS, trichlorosilane) in the distillate and a 97% recovery of the heavy key (TET, silicon tetrachloride) in the bottoms. At a reflux ratio of 2, the specified recovery of TCS and TET is achieved with 20 trays (equlibrium stages, N=20). Respective feed tray locations are 9, 12 and 15 (NF/sub 1/=9, NF/sub 2/=12, and NF/sub 3/=15). A total condenser is used for the distillation which is conducted at a pressure of 90 psia.

• Research Organization: Texas Research and Engineering Inst., Inc., Port Neches (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: NAS-7-100-956045
• OSTI ID: 5664206
• Report Number(s): DOE/JPL/956045-82/3; ON: DE82011020
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140501* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photovoltaic Conversion
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DESIGN
DIAGRAMS
DISTILLATION EQUIPMENT
ELEMENTS
ENERGY BALANCE
EQUIPMENT
FLOWSHEETS
HYDRIDES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
LABOR
MATERIAL BALANCE
PRODUCTION
SEMIMETALS
SILANES
SILICON
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SPECIFICATIONS
SYSTEMS ANALYSIS